Democracy Now! - October 1, 2015 - Free Speech TV

Russia has launched airstrikes in Syria for a second day, becoming the latest foreign government to intervene in a war that has already killed over 240,000 people and displaced millions. The move sparked concern from U.S. officials, who say the Russian attacks did not hit ISILtargets but instead struck rebel groups fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, including at least one group trained by the CIA. The United States and Russia have long disagreed about strategy in Syria, with Washington calling for Assad’s departure and Moscow backing the Syrian president. Earlier today, the Kremlin said Russia is coordinating with the Syrian military to hitISIL targets as well as other militant organizations. Russia is at least the 10th foreign government to launch airstrikes in Syria this year. Other countries include the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Australia, Turkey, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. We speak to Columbia University professor Rashid Khalidi.

Wednesday marked a historic day for Palestine at the United Nations in New York, where the Palestinian flag was raised for the first time. Earlier this month, the U.N. General Assembly passed a motion to raise the Palestinian and Vatican flags. The United States and Israel voted against the motion, along with six other countries. Forty-five countries abstained. Earlier on Wednesday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced in his address to the U.N. General Assembly that the Palestinian Authority was no longer bound by the peace agreements known as the Oslo Accords with Israel. We speak to Columbia University professor Rashid Khalidi, author of many books, including “Brokers of Deceit: How the U.S. Has Undermined Peace in the Middle East.”

Ending weeks of infighting, lawmakers voted Wednesday to avert a government shutdown just hours before a midnight deadline. In the House, a large majority of Republicans voted against the measure, which did not meet conservatives’ demands to cut off money to Planned Parenthood. The move to cut off funding came after the airing of heavily edited videos released by an anti-choice group which claimed to show Planned Parenthood employees discussing the sharing of fetal tissue with researchers. Wednesday’s vote came one day after Planned Parenthood’s president, Cecile Richards, faced off with Republican lawmakers before a heated House hearing. We air excerpts and speak to Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), who says the questioning of Richards was "clearly sexist."

We end today’s show in Oklahoma. Just moments before death row inmate Richard Glossip was scheduled to be killed on Wednesday, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin issued a stay of execution citing questions over the execution protocol and the chemicals used for lethal injection. Richard Glossip’s case has attracted international attention. On Wednesday, Pope Francis urged Governor Fallin to commute the death sentence over questions of Glossip’s guilt. We speak to Sister Helen Prejean, one of the world’s most well-known anti-death-penalty activists. She is the author of the best-selling book, "Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty."